IN celebrating International Men’s Day, men have been told to be responsible for their health and avoid preventable deaths by engaging in regular medical checkups.

Dr Kunle Adedoyin gave the charge during a sensitisation talk and free medical checkup organised by USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, in partnership with Solutions 93.9 FM, Ibadan, to commemorate the 2023 International Men’s Day.

The exercise afforded over 300 people in Oke-Ado community of Ibadan the opportunity to check their blood pressure and blood sugar, tuberculosis test, COVID vaccination, malaria test and free drugs.

Adodoyin, the director of public health care at Ibadan South-West Local Government, said most men don’t prioritise their health, work all week without resting and overlook opportunities for free medical checkups, even when they are brought to their doorsteps.

He appealed that men shouldn’t see having an annual medical checkup at the hospital as a burden, urging that after age 40, men should undergo tests for prostate enlargement, a condition that could affect their ability to urinate freely.

“Some cases of prostate enlargement can be tackled merely with drugs, but when it becomes severe, it may require surgery,” he said.

Dr Adedoyin urged men to seek medical care promptly when ill, avoid alcohol use, drug abuse, self-medication and other lifestyles capable of ending their lives prematurely.

Oyo State coordinator, USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Oluwatoyin Afachung, while advising men not to give up on themselves despite the socioeconomic situation of the country, urged them to visit the nearest health centre to check their health status at all times.

Mrs Afachung said there is a need for the government to prioritise the provision of employment opportunities for men, to ease the burden of the current economic reality.

Reacting, the Chief Operating Officer, Solutions 93.9 FM Ibadan, Mrs Funmi Chima, said the medical outreach was part of the station’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Oke-Ado community and Ibadan South-West Local Government at large.

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